Month: December 2008

IRAN’S BALANCED POSITION IMPORTANT FOR KARABAKH CONFLICT PEACEFUL RESOLUTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.12.2008 18:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan met Tuesday
with deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali
Bagheri to discuss bilateral cooperation, the RA Minister’s spokesman,
col. Seyran Shahsuvaryan told PanARMENIAN.Net.

The officials exchanged views on regional security and stability
issues.

Touching on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process, the
two emphasized that Iran’s balanced position on the issue important
for peaceful resolution of the conflict.

Development of the Armenian-Iranian cooperation proceeds from the
interests of the two countries and has a positive influence of the
entire region, they said.

ARMENIA PLANNING TO OPEN DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIONS IN BRAZIL, LITHUANIA, FINLAND AND JAPAN

ARMENPRESS
Dec 23, 2004

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS: Next year Armenia is planning to open
diplomatic representations in Brazil, Lithuania, Finland and Japan.

Head of the press service department of Armenian Foreign Ministry
Tigran Balayan told Armenpress that during this year a consulate
point opened in Hague and a consulate general – in Batumi.

T. Balayan also noted that the program work of purchasing of buildings
of Armenian embassies in abroad will continue in 2009: with the state
budget means buildings will be bought for embassies but it is not
yet clarified in what towns.

Armenia has diplomatic relations with 153 countries of the world.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ISSUES ON DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIAN-IRANIAN RELATIONS DISCUSSED

ARMENPRESS
Dec 23, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Defense Minister Seyran
Ohanian received today the delegation headed by the deputy secretary of
Iranian Supreme Security Council Ali Bagheri, accompanied by Iranian
ambassador to Armenia Sayed Ali Saghayan.

Spokesman for the Armenian Defense Ministry Seyran Shahsuvarian told
Armenpress that the minister greeted the guests, expressing hope that
the bilateral frank discussions will once again confirm Armenian and
Iranian positions in bilateral and regional cooperation issues.

The defense minister also noted that the relations formed between the
two countries and the existing success, the ancient long friendship
and historic-cultural commonalities are enough bases for boosting
business ties and continuing the development of cooperation.

At the end of the meeting the sides exchanged thoughts over a number of
regional security and stability issues and pointed out the coming work.

Referring to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict regulation issue, the
sides also said that the balanced position adopted by Iran has a
great importance for the peaceful regulation of the conflict. The
interlocutors also said that the existing cooperation in various
spheres stems not only from the interests of Armenia and Iran but
also of the whole region.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN FM RECEIVES DEPUTY SECRETARY OF IRANIAN SUPREME SECURITY COUNCIL

ARMENPRESS
Dec 23, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian received today the delegation headed by the deputy secretary
of Iranian Supreme Security Council Ali Bagheri.

Armenian Foreign Ministry press and information department told
Armenpress that greeting the guests, Edward Nalbandian said that he
is pleased with the Armenian-Iranian relations based on the mutually
beneficial cooperation. Referring to the expansion of economic
relations between the two countries he highly assessed the results
of the session of inter-governmental cooperation commission held in
Tehran December 15.

During the meeting the sides also discussed a number of issues on
implementation of joint programs between Armenia and Iran in transport
and energy spheres.

NECESSITY OF BRINGING ARMENIAN-IRANIAN RELATIONS ON STRATEGIC LEVEL UNDERSCORED

ARMENPRESS
Dec 23, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS: Secretary General of Armenian
National Security Council Arthur Baghdasarian received today the
delegation headed by the deputy secretary of Iranian Supreme Security
Council Ali Bagheri who paid a three-day visit to Armenia within the
frameworks of the arrangements reached during Baghdasarian’s visit
to Iran.

Press service of the Armenian National Security Council told Armenpress
that during the meeting the sides discussed a wide-range of issues
on bilateral relations, pointed out the necessity of viewing them in
regional and international pre-context as well. The sides agreed that
the two countries have great potential for cooperation.

They also discussed Tehran’s participation in the construction of
Armenia-Iran railway, oil pipeline, Yerevan-Batumi highway. The sides
pointed out the necessity of bringing Armenian-Iranian relations into
a strategic level.

A. Baghdasarian and A. Bagheri underscored the implementation of
the practical steps for bringing to life the reached agreements and
noted that special committee which is being formed between Armenian
and Iranian security councils may greatly promote it.

A. Baghdasarian invited his Iranian counterpart to pay an official
visit to Armenia. The visit will take place in 2009.

SERZH SARGSYAN SAYS 2009 WILL BE THE YEAR OF SUCCESS

ARMENPRESS
Dec 23, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS: On the occasion of New Year and
Christmas holidays President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan gave a reception
today in his residence for the representatives of mass media.

Congratulating the guests, the president wished health and happiness
to the families of all and wished mass media a day to day increasing
audience.

"Let the year of 2009 be a year of success, let in 2009 we manage with
joint efforts to lead the country through the way of development,
let more marriages and more joy be in Armenia than last year. There
was no lack of events in 2008 either in the republic, region or in the
world in general. Neither of you had difficulty in searching for fresh,
urgent information but unfortunately not all of them were pleasant and
joyful. I wish that the 2009 be also a full year and reporters and mass
media will not have any problems in informing the public, finding good
material, but I frankly wish that positive be more in the news. I wish
that in 2009 together with you we manage to support positive processes
and those grave forecasts, which often are met not only in mass media,
but also in world in general, will not come true," the president said,
expressing assurance that the next year will be successful and such
events will take place which will consolidate the security of the
country, belief of the people towards the coming day. And the biggest
guarantee of not becoming bad predictions a reality, the leader of the
country considered the already carried out huge work which has been
done without noise, without expectations to win political dividends,
and this huge work will by all means give its results. "When the result
comes forth, you will be the first to know," Serzh Sargsyan said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GRIGOR VOSKERCHYAN WAS BEATEN IN THE PENITENTIARY

A1+
[08:25 pm] 23 December, 2008

The "Case of the Seven" started 45 minutes late today not because
accused Grigor Voskerchyan was brought to court late due to health
conditions, but because he had been beaten.

"Thus, the court did not register the fact that a crime was committed
in the "Nubarashen" penitentiary today. The special officers of the
crime punishment checked my client’s cell, removed everybody and
left him alone. They asked Voskerchyan what article he was charged
with. Knowing that he is part of the "Case of the Seven", they
smacked him in ear and head," said Grigor Voskerchyan’s attorney
Stepan Voskanyan adding that they didn’t even allow his client to
make a statement in court today.

Voskerchyan’s attorney is planning on sending a letter to the RA
Prosecutor General for bringing those guilty to justice. The attorney
also informed that nothing was found in his client’s cell and it is
out of the competence of the officers to conduct check-ups in the
cells of the penitentiary or beat the prisoners.

Armen Khachatryan, who is the attorney of one of the victims of March
1 Gor Gloyan, stated that the main provoker of today’s trial is Judge
Mnatsakan Martirosyan.

"The person who was applying sanctions against the accused did not
respect the same legislative code with which he was guided."

Khachatryan meant the fact that the judge postponed the session based
on the reason that the accused had shown disrespect towards the judge
by not standing up when the judge entered the room.

Attorney Hovik Arsenyan had this to say in regard to the high number
of police officers, the impediments for journalists, not allowing
relatives to enter the courtroom and the rude behavior shown to those
gathered in the courtroom:

"This administration has started provocations in order not to have
a normal trial. There is only one issue-do everything possible and
impossible to have the sessions take place behind closed doors."

Arsenyan told "A1+" that all the political prisoners charged with
the March 1 cases never stand up when the judge enters the courtroom.

Press speaker for head of the penitentiary department of the Ministry
of Justice Arsen Babayan denied the fact that Grigor Voskerchyan had
been beaten.

TSARUKYAN ADVISES NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN "BJNI" AUCTION

A1+
[09:09 pm] 23 December, 2008

"I have been Khachik Sukiasyan’s friend and business partner. I
will never participate, nor will I advise anyone to participate in
the auction. As far as the issue of documentation is concerned, the
director and accountant are guilty because they are paid for making
sure the documents are correct," said today in parliament leader of
the Prosperous Armenia faction Gagik Tsarukyan in response to the
question on the "Bjni" mineral water factory.

Let us recall that the assets and the rights to those assets of the
"Bjni" mineral water factory have been put up for an auction on
December 19, but there has not been any proposal made to date.

In response to the question regarding the preliminary statement of
the PACE Monitoring Committee, Tsarukyan said:

"I believe that Armenia has fulfilled all of the requirements,
but since the trial is still in progress, it is early to talk about
that. Nobody knows how the trial will end."

But Armenia faces the danger of losing voting rights. To that,
Tsarukyan said that nobody can deprive Armenia of its voting rights
until the trial ends. "What does political prisoner mean? Is anybody
in jail as a political prisoner? Let’s just wait until the trial ends."

The next question referredto the rumors flying around that Armenia
will see a new prime minister and that it could be him.

"I have always said and still say that I did not form a political
party to come to power, but rather I did it for the country. I have
done everything for the benefit of Armenia."

Gagik Tsarukyan advised the prime minister: "The Prime Minister
must take steps and the people have to see those steps. As for Tigran
Sargsyan, he has been holding his post for a short while and must prove
to the people that he can do a better job than what he used to do."

As far as the global economic crisis is concerned, the Prosperous
Armenia party convened a session this morning during which that issue
was discussed.

"We find that it is necessary to give our businessmen opportunities
and to evade lay-offs. Besides that, we have stated that it is time
to think about helping businessmen. That is why our faction is against
the taxing deal. The only reason that Armenia survived the first wave
of the crisis was because our banking system didn’t work well. But
the second wave is on its way. Prices are going up and down and it
is a serious issue."

Does the government have certain plans?

"There are programs. We have our proposals and present our plans, but
I don’t know if they will be approved. In any case, I have assigned
my faction members to propose their own programs."

Journalists also asked Tsarukyan if he sees the out-of-turn
parliamentary elections possible.

"In today’s conditions, we must do everything to keep everything calm
and try to get out of the crisis. The important thing is to work and
avoid lay-offs."

In the end, Tsarukyan expressed his wishes for the New Year:

"I want Armenia to be the country that I would like to see. I would
like to see my country stable. This year was difficult for Armenia;
the events of March 1 were tragic and the deaths had a negative
impact. The crisis was the result of 10-15 years of growth and now
we need time to get things back in order."

HOVSEPYAN SET A NEW RECORD

A1+
[09:32 pm] 23 December, 2008

Sargis Hovsepyan, 36, became the best senior soccer player of the
Armenian state soccer team and the "Pyunik" team in the history
of Armenian soccer. Based on results of a vote taken by the press
secretariat of the Armenian Football Federation, the experienced
player was recognized as the best player of 2008 today during the
2008 awards ceremony, which took place in the home/headquarters of
the Armenian Football Federation.

Sargis Hovsepyan also received a car and the keys were handed by
president of the Armenian Football Federation Ruben Hayrapetyan.

Hayrapetyan said that he is giving Sargis a car for setting the record
by playing 100 games as a national team player.

During the awards ceremony the medal-winners of the Armenian
championship received awards. The "Pyunik" team went home with gold
medals for the eighth time. "Ararat" received silver medals and
the "Gandzasar" team of Kapan won bronze medals for the first time
ever. The Brazilian legendary player Marcos won the best bombardier
ranking for the second year in a row, while Ararat Tchagharyan was
once again declared best referee.

There was a list of other prizes as well. The Armenian Development
Bank awarded Henrich Mkhitaryan as the player with the best progress.

At the end of the ceremony, president of the AFF Ruben Hayrapetyan
called on members of the football society to be united and wished
the soccer clubs success in the next European championship play-offs.

Here are the results of the vote for best soccer players:

1. Sargis Hovsepyan (Pyunik)-162 2. Henrich Mkhitaryan (Pyunik)-161
3. Vahagn Minasyan (Ararat)-112 4. Marcos (Ararat)-71 5. Artur
Edigaryan (Pyunik)-47 6. Hrair Mkoyan (Ararat)-19 7. Renato (Ararat)-11
8. Alexander Petrosyan (Gandzasar)-7 9. Gevorg Ghazaryan (Pyunik)-6
10. Arsen Balabekyan (Banants)-4 11. Jefferson (Ararat)-3 12. Karen
Dokhoyan (Pyunik)-3 13. Gevorg Kasparov (Ulis)-2 14. Benjamin
Manucharyan (Gandzasar)-1 15. Albert Tadevosyan (Pyunik)-1
16. Constantin Birsan (Gandzasar)-1 17. Grigor Meliksetyan (Pyunik)

CITIZENS OF ARMENIA WILL HAVE TWO PASSPORTS

Panorama.am
15:43 23/12/2008

Norayr Muradkhanyan, the head of passports and visa department of the
Police Station of Armenia, announced in a press conference that he is
satisfied with the results of the reforms made in their department. He
said that their communication with the citizens is improved, and they
try to solve the obstacles to help people.

According to him information boards are pasted in every passport
department on the procedures of each activity.

According to Muradkhanyan, since January 1, 2010 ID cards and metrics
will be in usage. "But those passports we have now will be valid till
their expire date," he said. ID cards will be used in our country
and metrics abroad.